Envelop-opener.



H. A. SMITH.

ENVELOP OPENER.

APPLICATION PILEDSEPT. 22, 1909.

943,103. V Patented Dec.14,1909.

HARRY A. SMITH, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

' ENVELOP-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec, 14, 1909.-

Application filed. September 22, 1909. Serial No. 518,940.

fTo all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY A. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Envelop-Opener, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to envelop openers of the type which are secured within the envelop and the object of the invention is to provide an opener which cannot be accidentally removed from the envelop and which may be easily manipulated to open the envelop when so desired.

The invention consists in certain novel features which will be hereinafter first fully described and then particularly pointed out in the claim and all ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of an envelop closed and havin my improved opener applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of an envelop with the flap raised and parts broken away. Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the envelop partly opened. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the envelop fully opened and the opener free. Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views on the lines 55 and GG of Fig. 1, respectively.

The envelop 1 may be of any desired shape or size and is of the usual construction having bottom and end flaps, and a closing flap 2.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a loop 3 which .may be made of cotton or linen thread or very fine wire or of any other suit able material which will be without any ap preciable weight, the loop being formed by doubling a suitable length of thread, as will be readily understood. The loop is placed within the folds of the envelop along one end or side of the same with its ends projecting beyond the corner of the envelop. The innerf extremity or bight of the loop is engaged in a clip 4 of paper or similar material by having one strand passed between the plies of the same, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, and the said plies of the clip are then secured together by means of any suitable adhesive, the clip with'the retained strand of the loop being then permanently secured within the envelop at the corner of the same by means of an adhesive which will secure it to the body of the envelop in the position shown in Fig. 2. The projecting free ends of the loop are bent backward over the edge of the envelop and both strands are passed under a clip 5 similar to the clip 4, which clip is folded over the edge of the envelop and secured to theopposite faces of the same by means of a suitable adhesive, the extreme ends of the loop projecting freely from the inner edge of the said clip, as shown at 6 in Fig. 1.

In the drawings, I have illustrated the opener as applied along the end of the envelop but it will beunderstood, of course, that the opener may be applied to either side of the envelop without any change in its construction or operation.

Vhen it is desired to open an envelop provided with my improved device, the projecting ends 6 of the loop 3 are grasped and a slight pull exerted upon the same whereupon the loop will be drawn through the fold of the retaining clip 5 toward the adjacent corner of the envelop, severing the said clip so as to leave the ends of the loop free. The pulling upon the loop being continued, the loop will then cut through the fold of the envelop and this cutting will extend to the opposite corner so as to completely open the end or side of the envelop and ermit the removal of its contents. It will e observed that the paper clips by which the ends of the loop are retained in position also serve to reinforce the corners of the envelop so as to prevent the accidental opening of the envelop and as the thread is doubled throughout the length of the opener, the severing or cutting of the body of the envelop may be performed without any liability of the thread breaking in the process and leaving the envelop only partly opened. Furthermore, the free ends of the loop are secured in such manner as to project from the edge of the envelop in position to be readily grasped by the fingers when it is desired to open the envelop and at the same time are held away from the corner of the envelop so that there is no liability of the same being accidentally gripped and pulled when a bundle of letters is being handled. Moreover, the inner end or bight of the loo is secured in such a manner that it will be firmly held against withdrawal and withv out liability of its beeomingentangled with the contents of a letter so that the said con tents will not be injured when the envelop is opened.

The device is exceedingly simple and may be applied to any form of envelop without materially adding to the cost of the same or Without in any Way interfering with the free handling of the sealed envelop.

Having thus described my invention, What- I' claim is v The combination with an envelop, of a retaining clip secured to the inner side of the envelop at one corner of the same'and composed of fragile material doubledon itself, a severing loop having'its bight passing around the edge of the clip andone strand .passing between the plies of the clip, thesaid loop extending along one edge of the envelop and lying Within the fold of said edge and the extremity of the loop projecting through the meeting edge of the envelop and doubled back against the edge within which itis inclosed, and a securing oil of fragile-material folded over the edge 0 the envelop and the doubled back portion of the severin loop and secured to the sides of the'enve op, the extreme end of the loop being free and projecting from that edge of said clip which is distant from the corner of the envelop. r

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses,

- HARRY A. SMITH.

WVitnesses:

JOSEPH E. Fosno'r, MARSHALL WV, TAYLOR; 

